WOUND CARE LEARNING CENTER

TOPICS

WOUND CARE- WOUNDS & TREATMENTS

As we age, our skin thins and the repair ability is not what it once was. For this reason, seniors are susceptible to wounds. It is important for elderly individuals to understand how to treat wounds properly to help avoid infection. This is especially true for those individuals living independently. Certain risk factors can make some individuals more prone to wounds than others. These risk factors include:

Previous injuries or skin tears

Impaired mobility

Poor nutrition

Chronic illness such as heart disease

Types of Wounds

A wound is a break or opening in the skin. When the skin is broken, even during surgery, germs can enter and cause infection. Wounds often occur because of an accident, injury or chronic illness and come in all shapes and sizes. Regardless of the type of wound, all wounds need to be treated effectively and as soon as possible to help prevent infection or further infection. Treatment for a minor scrap and an open gash is different; therefore it is important to understand the different types of wounds and how to heal them properly. Some basic wounds and acute wounds include:

Cuts or incisions

Scrapes or abrasions

Puncture wounds

Lacerations

Punctures

Wounds that are more serious in nature are commonly known as chronic wounds. Chronic wounds are typically wounds that do not heal correctly and are infected. Some chronic wounds include:

Infectious wounds

Surgery wounds

Diabetic ulcers

Pressure ulcers

Wound Care

Properly caring for your wound is important and keeping it clean and covered is recommended. This can help prevent scarring.

It is important to avoid picking at or scratching at the wound as it heals. This can interfere with healing and cause scarring.
Contact a medical professional if there are signs of infection such as redness, painful, pus, or fever.